Michael Pollan books in order
American author, journalist, activist, and professor of journalism
- Born
- 1955
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 14
Michael Pollan has published 9 novels, 2 non-fiction books and 3 other books, beginning with Second Nature (1991). The best-known is In Defense of Food (2008). The latest is A World Appears (2026).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Michael Pollan
Start here
In Defense of Food
Michael Pollan's most-read book.
Highest rated
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Rated 4.1 out of 5 by 46 readers.
Shortest way in
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual
One of the most-read, at about 168 pages.
Standalone novels in order
A Place of My Own (1997)
The Botany of Desire (2001)
The Omnivore's Dilemma (2006)
In Defense of Food (Jan 2008)
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual (Dec 2009)
Cooked (2013)
How to Change Your Mind (2018)
This Is Your Mind on Plants (Jul 2021)
A World Appears (Feb 2026)
Non-fiction in order
Second Nature (1991)
Bringing It to the Table (2009)
Other books in order
Voices of the Land (2004)
Big Ideas (2008)
Caffeine (2020)
Film and TV adaptations
- How to Change Your MindTV · from How to Change Your Mind
About Michael Pollan
Michael Kevin Pollan is an American journalist, specializing in food, who is a professor and the first Lewis K. Chan Arts Lecturer at Harvard University. Concurrently, he is the Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism and the director of the Knight Program in Science and Environmental Journalism at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, where in 2020 he cofounded the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, in which he leads the public-education program.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Michael Pollan FAQ
- How many books has Michael Pollan written?
- Michael Pollan has published 9 novels, 2 non-fiction books and 3 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Michael Pollan's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with In Defense of Food.
- What is Michael Pollan's latest book?
- A World Appears (2026).
- What is Michael Pollan's most famous book?
- In Defense of Food (2008) is Michael Pollan's most widely read book.
- Which Michael Pollan books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including How to Change Your Mind (TV).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.